Chapter I: Part IV: (Chapters 29 to 40) of “The

Tale of Genji.”

BLUE TROUSERS

BEING THE FOURTH PART OF “THE TALE OF GENJI”

BY

LADY MURASAKI

Translated from the Japanese by

ARTHUR WALEY

BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
1928

_All rights reserved_

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY UNWIN BROTHERS, LTD., WOKING

TO

R. C. TREVELYAN

CONTENTS

PAGE

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS 9

SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF VOLUME IV 11

CHAPTER

I. THE ROYAL VISIT 13

II. BLUE TROUSERS 40

III. MAKIBASHIRA 48

IV. THE SPRAY OF PLUM-BLOSSOM 90

V. FUJI NO URABA 105

VI. WAKANA, PART I 128

VII. WAKANA, PART II 182

VIII. KASHIWAGI 230

IX. THE FLUTE 252

X. YŪGIRI 267

XI. THE LAW 309

XII. MIRAGE 321

LIST OF MOST IMPORTANT PERSONS

Akashi, Lady of Brought back by Genji from his place of
exile.

Akashi, Princess Daughter of the above.

Akikonomu Daughter of Rokujō. Consort of the
Emperor Ryōzen.

Aoi Genji’s first wife. Her death is
recorded at the end of Vol. I.

Asagao, Princess Courted by Genji.

Chūjō, Lady Daughter of Tō no Chūjō. Concubine
of the Emperor Ryōzen.

Chūjō no Omoto Maid in service of Higekuro.

Crown Prince, The Son of Suzaku. Afterward ascends
the Throne. ‘The New Emperor’.

Emperor, The New See _Crown Prince_.

Falling Flowers A mild and patient lady, entrusted with
Lady from the Village of. Yūgiri’s upbringing.

Fujitsubo Genji’s stepmother. Secretly loved
by him.

Genji The hero.

Higekuro Husband to Makibashira, who goes
mad. Subsequently marries Tamakatsura.

Hyōbukyō, Prince Murasaki’s father.

Jōkyōden, Princess Consort of Suzaku.

Kaoru Son of Nyosan and Kashiwagi. Supposed
by the world to be Genji’s son.

Kashiwagi Son of Tō no Chūjō. In love with
Nyosan.

Kōbai Kashiwagi’s brother.

Kojijū Maid to Nyosan.

Koremitsu Genji’s favourite retainer.

Koremitsu’s Daughter ‘The Gosechi dancer.’ Yūgiri takes
a fancy to her at the time when he
cannot get access to Kumoi.

Kumoi Tō no Chūjō’s daughter. Yūgiri’s wife;

Makibashira Higekuro’s mad wife.

Moku no Kimi Maid in service of Higekuro.

Murasaki Genji’s wife. The low rank of her mother
prevented her ever being installed as
_kita no kata_ or ‘legitimate spouse.’

Niou Son of the New Emperor and the Akashi
Princess. Genji’s grandson.

Nishi no Miya Murasaki’s eldest sister.

Nyosan Favourite daughter of the ex-Emperor
Suzaku. Accepted by Genji as his
_kita no kata_, in deference to Suzaku’s
wishes. Loved by Kashiwagi.

Oborozuki Consort of Suzaku. Formerly loved by Genji.

Ochiba Daughter of Suzaku. Married to Kashiwagi;
after his death, loved by Yūgiri.

Omi, Lady from Illegitimate daughter of Tō no Chūjō.

Omiya, Princess Tō no Chūjō’s mother. Yūgiri’s maternal
grandmother.

Rokujō, Lady Loved by Genji in his early days.
Violently jealous of his other attendants.

Ryōzen, Emperor Thought by the world to be the son of the
Old Emperor (Genji’s father); but in
reality son of Genji and the Old Emperor’s
consort, Lady Fujitsubo.

Saishō Maid to Tamakatsura.

Sochi, Prince Genji’s half-brother.

Suzaku, Ex-Emperor Genji’s half-brother. Father of Nyosan and
Ochiba.

Tamakatsura Daughter of Tō no Chūjō and Yūgao. Adopted
by Genji.

Tō no Chūjō Genji’s great friend. Brother of Genji’s
first wife, Aoi.

Yamato, Governor of Nephew of Ochiba’s mother.

Yūgao Loved by Genji in his youth. Withered by
Rokujō’s jealousy. Dies in the deserted
mansion (_see_ vol. i, chap. iv).

Yūgiri Genji’s son by Aoi.

SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF
VOLUME IV

Genji has decided to find a husband for his ward Tamakatsura, though he longs to keep her for himself. Yūgiri (Genji’s son) is still in love with Kumoi (Tō no Chūjō’s daughter); but Tō no Chūjō is more ambitious on her behalf, and would like to establish her in the Emperor’s Palace. Genji is hurt by this slight upon Yūgiri, and there is an estrangement between Genji and Tō no Chūjō.

BLUE TROUSERS